FASHION Magazine

Biking is the go-to mode of transportation for our sticky summer commutes. You’ve got to hand it to our two-wheeler friends for getting us through the heaviest rush hour traffic in a time crunch. And though we adore anything that shortens our morning routines, a speedy cycle doesn’t come without its fair share of wardrobe-related challenges. Combining fashion and function is key for assembling bike-ready ensembles. Once you find the perfect balance of comfort and style, you’d be surprised what you can pull off wearing while weaving through the city streets.

While helmets may not be topping your must-have accessories list, they’re totally first on ours. Rachel Bilson recently paired her tight-fitted bike uniform with the sturdy headgear, earning her major safety points. ‘We Can’t Stop’ singer Miley Cyrus relies on her bike-basket to carry all of her favourite things and though her long hair is no more, we still suggest copying Cyrus’ polished top bun. It’s the perfect hairstyle for avoiding the post-cycle hot mess look. The ever-fashionable Kate Bosworth won’t let a little cycling get in the way of her outfit choices. Bosworth’s a-line circle skirt is the perfect way to steer clear of grease stains, while the knee length hemline promises to prevent un-wanted flashing situations.

But you don’t have to be a celebrity to look this cute on a bike. We’ve turned to our Style Panel for more advice on how to dress fashionably while biking. The Girl With The Messy Hair’s KD Faustino deems shorts a biking-must, but suggests scrapping your favourite denim cutoffs for something a little more fashion-forward. Short Presents’ Kayla Short also favours shorts, but suggests pairing them with a interesting top to give people something to look at as your cruise past them at top-speed. (Woah there, easy rider!)

Question 63: How do you dress fashionably while biking? Read the answers now!

Much like a blank canvas, white fashions are the clean slate that every wardrobe needs. The versatility of the innocent hue lends itself to endless styling possibilities. With the no-white-post-labour-day rule behind us (how passé), we’re free to stock up on crisp white pieces for summer, fall and beyond.

Stars on and off the red carpet are choosing white as their colour of choice. The ongoing white trend can just as easily adopt a streamlined, clean-cut look with sharp tailoring, as it can a perfectly pretty one with embroidery and sheer silks. Whatever your flavour, the posh hue is the perfect choice for showing off some of your boldest accessories. Consider pairing your favourite whites with a fierce animal print bag as Beyoncé pulled off recently. In the jewellery department, try topping off a white frock with an edgy, head-turning necklace like Olivia Palermo. A bold lip can also make as strong a statement, with Karlie Kloss showing off the perfect red pout to avoid looking washed out by her all white red carpet getup.

Much like the stars they dress, A-list designers are showing their love for the always-in-style hue. To keep it fresh, Bottega Veneta combined white-on-white textures on its Spring 2013 runway. Chanel spiced up ensembles with pearl beads garnishing white pieces.

Still doubting the power of an all white palette? Fear not, because we’ve asked our style panel for tips on how to wear white.

Over My Styled Body’s Lyndsey Forest agrees that accessories are key to amp up a white ensemble. She also suggests trying an unusual hemline to keep your look fun. Alicia Fashionista’s Alicia Quan pairs her whites with edgier pieces such as a leather jacket to avoid a bride-to-be look. With Love Gabrielle’s Marta Tryshak thinks that white is easy and fabulous. She considers well-fitted white denim jeans a must-have and advises investing in a pair that can be worn well into the fall.

Question 62: How do you wear white while keeping it fresh? Read the answers now!

When it comes to summer vacations, we all share the same fear of overweight luggage bills. From the moment we pull the suitcase out of the closet we’re considering how many purses we can qualify as necessary with and whether we can survive on just four pairs of shoes. Vacations are supposed to be blissfully stress-free and yet the packing blues have us in a rut.

For those of us heading beach destinations, the warm temperatures call for light, carefree pieces. Beyoncé has us convinced that she knows how to pack light. The starlet turned to Tumblr to document her recent beach vacation in which she’s seen rocking a variety of one-pieces (in kaleidoscopic prints, we might add) and flow-y bohemian blouses. For those planning a sightseeing vacation, packing light becomes increasingly more challenging. Comfort is key for those who plan to be on their feet all day. Rihanna was recently spotted out and about in London in a cool white-on-white ensemble which she paired with a leather visor, showing us she’s not letting the hot European sun put a damper on her vacation plans.

Still weary on how to pack light? We’ve turned to our style panel for more packing dos and don’ts.

Much like the classic LBD and the plain white T, denim shorts rank high on the list of timeless trends. Feared by some, loved by many, the versatility of this wardrobe staple makes this classic style a must-have for summer. On the streets, we’ve seen trendsetters brace the warmer temperatures in denim shorts of all […]

The post How to wear denim shorts: 15 Style Panel tips for braving this often-feared basic appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Abeer Matar*’s family moved to Montreal from the United Arab Emirates when she was 12, and her parents didn’t allow her to wear shorts or other revealing clothing. Now 24, she lives in Toronto, where she works at Bikini Village. She wears a swimsuit at the beach and shorts from time to time, but not when she’s with them. Her mother has come to accept her daughter baring more of her body, but her father still doesn’t know she wears a bathing suit in public, and she doesn’t think she’ll tell him. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings,” she explains. “Because maybe he’s against it.”

If you’re like us, you totally fell victim to this past year’s leather craze. With fall and winter both behind us (phew) it’s only safe to assume that our newly broken in leather finds are due to be packed away for a cooler day, right? Wrong! Leather for summer is on-trend and the options are endless.

See photos from the Central Air photo shoot »
Go behind the scenes »
Shop the shoot »

The diverse beauty of Nicaragua is a perfect setting for summer’s breezy dresses, punchy prints and crafty accessories. In this photo shoot from our Summer 2013 issue, model Rachel Alexander whisks us away to Central America. From standing on the edge of Masaya Volcano to dancing with traditional gigantona puppets on the streets of Granada, you’ll be mesmerized by the flowing dresses, vibrant prints and statement accessories that reflect the diverse beauty of this colourful destination.

See the best celebrity short hairstyles for summer »

As many Hollywood A-listers have proven, right now short hair is having a major moment. From Jennifer Lawrence’s recent lob to the staying power of Michelle Williams’ pixie cut, long hair is being phased out of the red carpet spotlight. And now that summer is officially here, there’s no better time to embrace short hair. After all, there’s nothing quite like a good hairstyle makeover to really get us in the mood for our favourite season.

If you haven’t yet cut off a couple of inches, consider that anything above shoulder length is the best way to keep cool when things turn sweaty and humid. And lest you think that a short cut means you’ll no longer have the versatility to change up your style, this slideshow of the best short celebrity hairstyles proves otherwise. From the super short—like Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron—to Karlie Kloss’s infamous cropped bob and Miley Cyrus’s constantly changing shaved style, we’ve rounded up 10 celebs who not only make short hair look really, really good—they know how to style it for red carpet-worthy events. Click through and don’t blame us if you’re booking a hair cut before you get to the end.

See our list of summer dresses under $100 »

The best day of the year is finally here. Or at least one of them. With the promise of rising temps, sunshine and outdoor activities nearly ready to deliver, we thought we’d get you sartorially prepped. Shorts, crop tops and overalls may make keep you cool in the hot sticky weather, nothing beats a pretty summer dress. (Plus, it makes deciding what to wear in the morning that much less stressful.)

Whether you’re hitting summer’s first pool party enjoying an iced latte with on your neighbourhood patio, we have you prepared to look cute and flirty for any event this season. From floral prints to lace to sexy cutouts, we’ve got you summer ready with 30 of the sweetest summer dresses. Oh, did we also mention they are all under $100? You’re welcome.

  Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren are mild-mannered and scrupulously polite, yet they’re anything but boring. When the three of us meet at The Room at Hudson’s Bay in Toronto (the store held a VIP cocktail party in their honour in April), the look-alike Dutch duo’s off-the-wall wit is apparent the moment seating commences, with […]

The post We sit down with Viktor & Rolf in advance of the duo’s designer dolls exhibit at Luminato in Toronto appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See our 50 summer accessories must-haves »

With the sun finally showing its face big time, we are more than ready to break out our summer wardrobes. Cue a season of jean shorts, little white dresses and crop tops. And while we’re sure you’ve been stocking your closet with these wonderous items, we want to make sure you’re covered in the accessory department as well.

From sunset printed heels to a popcorn-inspired purse, we’ve rounded up 50 ultimate summer accessories, both inspired-by and ideal for this season and the many activity potentials it brings with it. Beach bags! Straw hats! Jelly flats! They’re all here, folks. So what are you waiting for? Get clicking!

Though our friends south of the border still like to refer to us as the Great White North, we’re turning up the heat with 5 Canadian-made and runway-ready swimwear worthy of some seriously sunny attention. Meet the designers »

The post Catch the wave: 5 Canadian swimwear lines that have earned their place in the sun appeared first on FASHION Magazine.