FASHION Magazine

Thanks to designer houses like Lanvin, Gucci and Givenchy, it looks like metallics are no longer exclusive to the holiday season (or the eighties). With luxe looking, full-shine pieces making their way down the Spring 2014 runways, the trend proves to be just as chic for summer, instantly turning outfits from plain Jane to full-on glam. And while it may be one of this season’s hottest trends, metallic may not be easy to sport for a day-to-day look without feeling overdone. Fear not because we asked our Style Panel to show us how to wear metallic, taking this trend from runway to the streets.

Style Panel members agree that the trick to tackling this look is to wear it in small doses. Mo Handahu of Lion Hunter shows us how to work the metallic trend subtly into the outfit with just a small accessory without straying too far from her personal style. Meanwhile, With A City Dream’s Emma Walker ups the glam factor in her look hitting two birds with one stone (in this case, two trends with one pair of gold running shoes). And if you’re ready to break out of your comfort zone and play with the metallic trend head-on, Jill Lansky of The August Diaries demonstrates how to work the spring trend effortlessly this summer in a statement gold dress, as well as sharing tips on what shades of metallic works best for which skin tone.

Question 109: How do you wear metallic? Read the answers now! »

While black is as synonymous to winter as white with summer, that doesn’t mean the dark shade should be taboo for the warmer season. Summer naturally calls for brighter hues and season-appropriate prints, but thanks to this season’s A-list designers (i.e. Gucci, Giambattista Valli, Altuzarra) and celebrity style (we’re looking at you, Lorde!), the universal shade is definitely open to being worn all year long. However, it is inevitable to feel the need to stay away from the shade during the warm months of summer due to its heat-absorbing characteristics. So how do you stay cool without feeling like you’re drenched in sweat going from point A to B? Fear not, because this week, we challenged our Style Panel to share with us their tips on how to wear black this summer.

When it comes to wearing black in the heat, Style Panel members can agree that it’s all about choosing the right fabric and pieces. Jill Lansky of The August Diaries and Leonie Markhorst of The Signature Bow took on the challenge head-on wearing black head-to-toe in two different crop top ensembles. While Lansky played with a more structured, lady-like look, Markhorst kept things cool and chic pairing her outfit with an asymmetrical midi skirt. If you’re hoping to tackle this trend for the office environment, BornLippy’s Melanie Morais has the solution for you: silk pants. The breathable material will allow you to stay cool, while maintaining a professional look. And if you’re looking to be more stand-out, Barbara Ann Solomon of Barbara Ann’s Style Blog’s monochromatic floral jumpsuit is the perfect statement piece to feeling cool and stylish this summer.

Question 108: How do you wear black in the summer? Read the answers now! »

Without a doubt, the sock and sandal trend has been making waves via street style stars, instantly becoming sartorial eye candy for photographers standing outside the tents during Fashion Week Month. And judging from the Spring 2014 runways (Saint Laurent, Chanel and Miu Miu to name a few), it looks like socks and sandals (or heels in this case) were definitely on the minds of many designers. Although many would think this look could come across frumpy (socks and Birkenstocks, anyone?), with the right pieces, this look just screams high fashion. And besides the fact that it’s the ideal look to transition from season to season, you cannot deny socks and sandals also makes for the perfect cover up for those toes that aren’t quite ready to debut for sandal season. It’s definitely no easy task to master the art of this trend, but Style Panel is here to show us tips and tricks on how to wear socks and sandals for everyday.

The Pretty Secrets’ Sandy Joe Karpetz is all about making sure her feet are the focal point of her outfit when it comes to playing with socks and sandals, while Barbara Ann Solomon of Barbara Ann’s Style Blog is not one to shy away from mixing with different colours for her ensemble. And if you’re still skeptical of pulling off the trend, Kayla Short of Short Presents shows us one full-proof trick on how to rock this look with confidence.

Question 106: How do you wear socks and sandals? Read the answers now! »

Toronto’s super hip Field Trip Festival is taking place this coming weekend, which means music festival season is soon upon us (hello festival fashion!). There’s no question we’re hard core fans when it comes to summer’s popular trend (here’s proof), but with festival style outfits making a coming back every year, you have to admit that the look is getting a little played out. So how do you stand out from the festival crowd amidst the crop tops, flower crowns and fringe-clad outfits? In addition to the street style edition of how-to do festival fashion, this week we challenged our Style Panel to share how they plan to get heads turning with new festival outfit ideas.

Though some versions of festival outfits may not be for everyone, Northern Style Exposure’s Kira Paran proves that there’s a festive outfit for everyone. Mixing a sequined dress with a cool denim shirt, Paran maintains the festival look while feeling comfortable in her own skin. While Sasha Xiao of Sasha’s Satisfashion and Christopher Wolf of Wolf Musings stayed away from the festival fashion dress code adding their own unique personality to their outfits with tips on how to transition from day to night, our newest Style Panel member Emma Walker of With A City Dream, showed us how to work an effortless-meets-practical festival look with this season’s must-have: the backpack.

Question 106: How do you dress for a music festival? Read the answers now! »

Knowing what to wear on your first date is no easy feat, especially with butterflies in your stomach. We all want to put our best foot forward (in a pair of sky-high heels!) when making that first impression, but let’s face it. The last thing you want is to sit in an uncomfortable dress at the movies or hobble around in new (painful) heels when your date decides to take a romantic walk at the end of the night. So how do you dress to impress and feel confident all at the same time? This week our Style Panel shares some of their best tips to score that perfect outfit for that perfect first date or 100th date.

If there is one thing the members of Style Panel can agree on, it’s to dress according to your date location and wear something you would feel confident and comfortable in. Both Kassandra Camponi of Kastles and Kira Paran of Northern Style Exposure are big believers in wearing your favourite pieces is the key to bringing confidence to the date. While Camponi loves to team her favourite dress with a pop of colour in the accessories department, Paran was all about dressing comfortably in her favourite pair of jeans. The Pretty Secrets’ Sandy Joe Karpetz shows us how to prep us if the date takes you from a warm afternoon to a cool evening in the seamless transitional outfit. Still can’t decide on what to wear on a date? Jill Lansky of The August Diaries shares what not to wear just in case if you were thinking of taking out those harem pants out for the first time.

Question 105: What to wear on a date? Read the answers now! »

Whether it is for financial or creative reasons, looking for new ways to wear old clothes is something that always comes to mind. As much as we all wish we could wear new outfits for the rest of our lives like the fashionable characters of our fave films and TV shows (Cher Horowitz, Andy Sachs, Carrie Bradshaw, Serena van der Woodsen just to name a few), we don’t live in a fashion fairytale. Well, at least the majority of us don’t. Being the responsible shoppers that we are (or at least strive to be one), this week we’ve challenged our Style Panel members to share their tips and tricks on how to wear their old clothes in new ways.

Little did we know, some of the Style Panelists have already re-worked their favourite items under our noses. Case in point: Barbara Ann Solomon of Barbara Ann’s Style Blog shows us how to take a silk robe from winter to summer effortlessly. Inspiring those who have events to rush off to after a long day at the office, Christopher Wolf of Wolf Musings shares how one pair of faux leather pants can work for both day and night. And if you plan to look for new ways to wear a statement piece, take Sasha’s Satisfashion’s Sasha Xiao’s advice: Break away from your sartorial comfort zone and experiment with something on trend to spice up your look.

Challenge 104: How to re-work your favourite piece?
Read the answers now! »

We’re in the midst of May, which means wedding season is once again upon us. While we may not be able to help you out on the gift-giving front, we’re your go-to when it comes to getting inspired on what to wear, especially when it’s no easy feat to stand out from the wedding crowd without upstaging the bride. But before you brush us off and reach for the closest little black dress, we’ve asked our Style Panel members to share their fashion expertise on new and unique ways to dress for a wedding this upcoming season.

When it comes to making a statement, prints are definitely the fave trend. While Sandy Joe Karpetz of The Pretty Secrets continued last week’s all things stripes, Lion Hunter’s Mo Handahu and Velvet and Vino’s Becky Kung worked show-stopping prints that will definitely get heads turning at wedding receptions. Barbara Ann Solomon of Barbara Ann’s Style Blog proves that a crop top is definitely appropriate for weddings (done tastefully, of course). Teaming it with a full-length ball skirt, this look has chic and elegance mixed into one. And if straying from the LBD makes you feel a tad queasy, To Vogue or Bust’s Alex Grant shows us how to wear the timeless shade with a colour-blocking twist to keep things interesting.

Question 103: What to wear to a summer wedding? Read the answers now! »

Spring 2013 may have been about bold thick stripes on jackets, crop tops and dresses, but this year, the perennial spring trend was refreshed with thinner and finer takes on the Spring 2014 runway. Cases in point: Altuzarra showed vertical stripes in pajama-esque lady-like attires while Proenza Schouler worked the lines into its crisscross bodices and metallic pleated skirts. So, as the least complicated trend to incorporate into our everyday outfits (one may argue), this week we asked our Style Panel to inspire us with updated versions of their take on stripes for this spring.

While it’s easy to stick to one striped piece per outfit, To Vogue or Bust’s Alex Grant played with a striped scarf and top in reverse colours adding an understated elegance to a casual day ensemble. Where stripes only existed on tops, blazers and dresses in her closet, Dainty Girl’s Nicole Wilson’s broke out of her comfort zone and worked a pair of vertical striped pants to a work-appropriate outfit. And if wearing stripes isn’t really your thing, Kayla Short of Short Presents works a striped weekend bag into a monochromatic look to prove that this spring trend isn’t exclusive to just clothes.

Question 102: How do you wear stripes this spring? Read the answers now! »

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Hosting its first ever (and super successful) Blogger Fashion Week only a few months ago, Trend Trunk is back again for its second time around curating the ever-stylish closets of one hundred top Canadian bloggers, including our very own Style Panel members.

Co-sponsored by yours truly, the multifaceted shopping platform will unveil limited number of closets each day (until Sunday May 11!) for us to freely browse bloggers’ covetable clothes and accessories in the comfort of our home. Shop the closets of Style Panel bloggers Lyndsey Forest, Cee Fardoe, Barbara Ann Solomon, Kira Paran, Becky Kung and Jillian Lansky for their latest stylish donations (like a Isabel Marant for H&M print dress or a J.Crew statement clutch) throughout the week.

As winter reluctantly releases its stranglehold on the weather, we are left to figure out how to dress for two new seasons: extra-winter and the infamous pre-spring psych.

In our dreams, the end of April is sandal territory. As temperatures rise so do hems, layers begin to shed, and toes come out of hibernation. During this unpredictable and unseasonal weather it is easy to get caught in inappropriate footwear. Many have experienced the heartache caused by starting the day dressed for a certain type of climate only to find the elements have done a 180 by lunch-hour. After this years unending winter and slushy spring, when is it time to wear sandals again?

Inherited Jeans’ Stephanie Koch suggests that maybe open-toe is the way to go until a more stable spring climate is reached while Mikki Fox of Centre Street Style says it’s definitely sandal season, as long as winter pieces are still in the mix.

Question 101: Is it sandal season yet? Read the answers now! »

Can you believe it!? The 100th challenge. For nearly two years, our trusty Style Panel has been conquering style challenges from coast to coast.

In honour of the 100^th challenge we wanted to look back at the best-of by asking the Style Panel bloggers to chose a favouriite-ever look. This turned out to be the hardest challenge of all, since narrowing it down to a single look is no easy task. (Asking a fashion blogger to choose a favourite piece of clothing is like giving someone a litter of puppies and then telling them they can only choose one—nearly impossible, and sort of mean.)

The Panel, a handpicked group of Canada’s best-dressed fashion bloggers, has been answering your fashion queries using their unique fashion know-how. They’ve helped figure out Canadian tuxedos, taught us how to conquer normcore and fearlessly navigated through pastels. The Panel has been there like fashion seraphs leading through the sometimes-confusing trend terrain.

Question 100: If you had to choose, what would your favourite look be from recent years? Read the answers now! »

Ah, the Canadian tuxedo. Some love it and wear it well, others live in constant fear of looking like Britney and Justin when doing an all-demin look. Well, this week the Style Panel is all about converting any Canadian tuxedo naysayers into advocates for the look. The number one tip for trying all-denim is to make sure there’s some colour mixing going on. If you’re wearing dark jeans, pair it with a light-wash chambray shirt. And should you think this is a weekend-only look, think again: sharp tailoring and modern silhouettes can make all over denim a welcome mid-week style.

Question 99: How do you wear all over denim? Read the answers now! »